Sounding toy



Nov. 29, 1927.

1,651,245 J. J. BECKER SOUNDING TOY Filed Feb. 25, .1927 2 sheets-shea 1 @gl f Q i--H-w-l "HHHIIII "NWNIUIII /6 '"Hlllmlllll e; |i| Q L A925 i-|- i .L-I Z4 ff z '-1 2, H Z5 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN J. BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOUNDING TOY.

Application filed. February 23, 1927. Serial No. 170,286.

This invention relat-es to sounding toys.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and durable sounding toy embodying means for producing musical sounds when rolled over a floor or other surface.

Another object is to provide a toy for producing musical sounds when rolled over a floor or other surface wherein the musical strings are rotated successively into engagement with a. fixed flexible picker or plectrum to provide for successive musical sounds.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a toy having coacting devices for the production of musical sounds when the toy is rolled over a surface, and having a plurality of variously colored objects mounted thereon to be revolved outside of the field of operation of the music pr-oducing devices to create a pleasing variegated color scheme effect during t-he production of the musical sounds.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it. being understood that various changes in the form, proportion. size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the connec tion of the handle with the axle. y

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a non-rotatable axle is indicated by the reference character and it is preferably square in cross section. Disk wheels 6 and 7 are rotatably mounted on the ends of the axle. These disk wheels are connected by the equi-distant spaced rods 8, 9 and 10 which maintain the disk wheels in parallelism. The ends of these rods are preferably fitted in sockets in the inner faces of the wheels, having tight fit therein, and held by this' tight fitting con` secties lor otherwise secured therein.

Spherical or other shaped variously colored members 1l are secured, by a tight fit or otherwise, on the rodsg, and arranged in staggered relation, so that as the toy is pulled or pushed along over a floor or other surface, a pleasing color scheme effect is presented.

Musical string carrying disks l2 and 13, preferably of sheet metal, and smaller in diameter than the diameter of the wheels, loosely embrace the shaft within the disk wheels and are secured to the disk wheels 6 and 7, respectively, to rotate with the latter. The musical strings are indicated at 14 and are secured at their ends to the respective' disks 12 and 13 by suitable fastenings. This fas tening may be effected by striking up tongues from thc sheet metal disks 12 and 13 to form hooks 15, and by forming a loop at each end of each string, the ends of the strings are readily looped over the hooks and thereby secured, the peripheries of the string carrying disks forming bridges for the strings.

One means for connecting the musical string carrying disks to the disk wheels so that they may be carried thereby` resides in a pair of headed screw threaded bolts 16 and 17, operating through suitable openings in the respective disk wheels 6 and T and through suitable openings in the string carrying disks 1Q. and 13, with nuts 18 located against the inner faces of the string carrying disks, and having working fit on the screw threaded bolts. as shown. By manipulation of the nuts 18 on the bolts the disk wheels are adjustably supported` and this provides also for an adjustment to effect tensioning of the strings 14.

A picker or plectrum 19 is secured to the axle 5, in any suitable manner` and is composed of any suitable flexible material. such as thin sheet metal. celluloid or the like. and as Shown, may be of triangular shape having converging sides. resulting in a point 20, disposed in a path for engagement by the strings 14 successively as the musical carrying disks are rotated and thereby set the strings in vibration and create a series of musical sounds as the wheeled toy is rolled along the floor or other surface. This picker or plectrum may be fixedly secured to the axle 5 in any suitable manner, but as shown, it is preferably secured between a pair of clamping plates 21 et sheet. metal ether suitable material and having lIJ guiar recesses 22 to embrace the square axle and clamped to the latter in any desired manner but preferably by rivets 23, Which also effect a clamping oi the picker or plectrum between said plates. lilhile the picker or plectrum is preferably flexible in nature, the supportingv means therefor is preferably rigid.

To facilitate operation oi lli-e toyi l provide a 'handle Qt ot a length suitable to permit the average child to push or pull the toy Without stooping and this handle has arms 25 provided at their tree ends with openings 25 to lit the arms over the ends oi' the axle where they may be held against n disconnection :trom the aille by means ot suitable devices., such recessed spherical 0r other shaped Wood elements driven onto the ends ,of the axle. 'llhe aide may have projections to bite into the Wood to assist in eii'ecting the connection.

It will thus be seen that l provide a Wheeled toy embodying means :for the pro-- duction of musical sounds operated under the influence of a rolling motion et the de vice, and that outside ot the field ot the enacting musical sound producing elements, l provide colored objects arranged in such a: manner as to be rotated in the direction out rotation ot the Wheels lor the purpose ot producing a variegated color scheme eti tect pleasing` to the esthetic sense. The col ored objects may be any suitable color, such as redn White and blue.. or other colors may be included -to provide the attractiveness desired.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. ln a device ot the class described, an axle, Wheels rotatable on the azilej movable means between the Wheels torthe support ot musical strings secured to said supporting means, means connecting' the Wheels and the supportine` means to mount the supporting; means in spaced relation to the `Wheels and effect rotation Ot the string, supportingf means With said Wheels and te move said string1 siipporting means toivard and away 'trom said wheels to tensionr the strinirs1 and a yieldable plectrum rigidly secured to the axle and having` its outer end disposed 'tor engagement byv the musical strings'succesn sively to create musical sounds.

2. ln a device oit the class described, an airleivvheels rotatable on the axle, n'ieans betiveen the Wheels for the support or' musical strings, musical strings secured to said supporting means, means comiectiiig` the Wheels andthe supporting means to mount the supportino' means in spaced relation to the Wheelskand effect rotation oil? the stringi* supporting; means with said Wheels, a plectrum secured to the axle and having; its outer end disposed for engagement by the musical strings successively to create musical sounds, a plurality of rods extending` between the .the iield of rotation ot' said strings and their supporting means, and a plurality oit colored objects varying in color lined on the rods in staggered relation@y whereby upon travel oi' the device over a surface a changingl and pleasing color scheine is given the device out de ot the musical strings andtlieir supporting means.

3. in a levice ofiI the character described.1 a nonrotatable axleql wheels rotatable on the ends elt the .fi:\1l.e connecting men'iliiers between the wheels near the pei'ipheries et the Wheels, sheet metal string carrying; disks loosely en'ibracing' the axle iii spaced relation to the `Wheels and having` portions struck up therefrom to provide hooks on their enter faces. strings having looped ends secured to the respective hooks or the disks, the peripln eries of the dil iliorminnv bridges tor the strings. means lo support the string` carrying disks trom said wheels. a plectrum carried by the axle lor engagement by the strings successivelyy to create iinisical sounds, said support ing1 means ior the disks having threaded connection with the disks to provide for an adjustment ot the disks to etli'ect tensioniini4 of the strings when desired.

il. ln a device of tlie character described, a nonrotatable axle. disk Wheels mounted on the axle, string: carrying disks loosely einbracing` the axle and each having` hooks on its outer iace, means tor adiustably connecting the stringv carrying): disks to the wheels to rotate Vith the latter and to 1naintain the wheels and disks in spaced relation. andstrings extended over the pcriiiheries oi the disks and hav'.V j looped ends secured to the respective bool oit the disks whereby the pei'iplieiies of the disks form bridge-ii for the strings, and Wherebjviipon adjustment ot the f;

is (s by said inljustable means tbe strings are tensioned, and a plccti'um mounted on the asile uor eniiap'en'ient by the strings successively as the device rolled over a snrtace.

5. ln a device ot the cb.; racvcr i'lrscrilfied. a non-rotatable axle, Wheels mounted on the ends ot the aide, stringi' cari-vineY disks ot smaller diameter than the cisl; Wheels arranged between the whcclm one disk adjacent cach Wheeln means 'For securingf the disks to the Wheels whereby `to rotate the disks With the Wheelsa the disks having' hooks on their outer'liaces, strings extended over the peripheriesot the disks and connected at their ends to the hooks of the disks and a plectrum mounted on the axle tor engage ment by the strings successively as the device is rolled over a surface.

6. ln a device ot the character described.

a non-rotatable axle, Wheels rotatable on the ends of the axle9 musical sounding devices.,

l il() including movable parts, operatively mounted between the wheels for coaction to produce successive musical sounds as the device is rolled over a surface, and a plurality of spaced colored objects supported by said wheels to be carried thereby as the wheels are rotated and arranged outside of the field of rotation of the rotatable parts of the music producing devices, said objects being staggered and varying in color. whereby upon travel of the wheels over a surface. a pleasing variegated color scheme is created.

T. In a device of the character described, an axle, disk wheels mounted on the axle, string carrying disks of smaller diameter than the disk wheels loosely embracing the axle, one adjacent each disk wheel, means for adjustably connecting the string carrying disks to the disk wheels to rotate with the latter, strings arranged in parallelism and having their ends connected to the string carrying disks, and a flexible plectrum rigidly mounted on the axle for engagement by the strings successively7 as the device is rolled over a surface.

8. In a device of the character described, an axle, disk wheels mounted on the axle, string carrying disks of smaller diameter than the disk wheels loosely cmbracng the axle, one adjacent each disk wheel, means for adjustably connecting the string carrying disks to the disk wheels to rotate with the latter, strings arranged in parallelism and having their ends connected to the string carrying disks, a flexible plectrum rigidly mounted on the axle for engagement by the strings successively as the device is rolled over a surface, rods connecting the disk wheels near the peripheries of the latter, and elements mounted on said rods to provide enlargements thereon, the elements on one rod being staggered with relation to the elements on adjacent rods.

9. In a device of the character described, an axle, disk wheels on the axle, string carrying disks of smaller diameter than the disk wheels loosely embracng the axle, one adjacent each disk wheel, strings having their ends connected to the string carrying disks, screw threaded bolts passed through the disk wheels and the respective adjacent string carrying disk, nuts having working fit on the screw threaded bolts and disposed adjacent, the inner faces of the respective string carrying disks whereby to adjustably secure the latter to the disk wheels and to tension said strings, a plectrum secured to the axle for engagement by the strings suc-` cessively as the device is rolled along a surface, and a handle connected to the axle.

lO. In a device of the character described, an axle. disk wheels on the axle, string carrying disks of smaller diameter than the disk wheels loosely embracing the axle, one adjacent cach disk wheel, means for adjustably connecting the string carrying disks to the disk wheels to rotate with the latter, strings arranged in parallelism and having their ends connected to the string carrying disks, a flexible plectrum rigidly mounted on the axle for engagement by the strings successively as the device is rolled over a snrface, rods connecting the disk wheels near the peripheries of the latter` and a handle connected to the axle.

11. In a device of the character described. an axle. disk wheels on the axle, string carrying disks of smaller diameter than the disk wheels loosely embracing the axle, one adjacent each disk wheel, strings having their ends connected to the string carrying disks, screw threaded bolts passed through the disk wheels and the respective adjacent string carrying disk, nuts having working fit on the screw threaded bolts and disposed adjacent the inner faces of the respective string carrying disks whereby to adjustably secure the latter to the disk wheels and to tension said strings, a plectrum secured to the axle for engagement by the strings successively as the devce is rolled along a surface, rods connecting the disk wheels, and located between the strings and the peripheries of the disk wheels, colored spherically shaped elements tixedly secured on said rods, the elements on the rods being arranged in staggered relation, and a handle connected to the axle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN J. BECKER., 

